California Sexual Abuse Attorneys

This is a horrible subject and one of a parent’s greatest fears. Sexual abuse refers to any sexual contact, intimidation, or grooming of a child or teen. Perpetrators are generally known by the child and they are often employed by well-known community organizations or government entities. This is a horrific crime that robs children of their innocence, and it occurs far too often.

Sexual Abuse Statistics

At least 1 in 5 girls is a victim of child sexual abuse;

At least 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse;

Self-report studies show that 20% of adult females and 5-10% of adult males recall a childhood sexual assault or sexual abuse incident;

Over the course of their lifetime, 28% of American youth ages 14 to 17 have been sexually victimized;

Children are most vulnerable between the ages of 7 and 13.

The Rights of a Sexual Abuse Victim

Victims of child sexual abuse (or their guardians) may pursue justice through the criminal and civil justice systems. In a criminal case, the goal is to protect society. The abuser commits “a crime against the state” and the victim will serve as a witness for the prosecution. In a civil suit, the goal is to seek the best interests of the child. Civil suits generally involve the personal injuries of the child (and seeking compensation), restraining orders and custody.

The Pasadena and Los Angeles child sexual abuse attorneys and molestation lawyers at The Law Offices of Scott Glovsky can help you assess your rights pursuant to a civil lawsuit.

Civil lawsuits allow victims to seek compensation for their harms and protection from the perpetrator. We will help you seek financial compensation from the perpetrator and others whose unreasonable conduct gave rise to conditions that allowed the crime to occur. Even if the perpetrator was never criminally charged, we can help you seek justice.

The burden of proof in a civil case is lower than that of a criminal case. The plaintiff – victim – must only show that there is a preponderance of evidence (more likely than not) that the defendant committed the harm.

We only represent victims of abuse. We represent residents of Los Angeles, Pasadena and Southern California. We never represent the perpetrators or organizations that employ them (or their insurance companies). We understand the evidentiary issues that are involved in child abuse cases and take advantage of the statutes and laws that protect children from having to tell their story over and over or to be present in court. If your child has been abused you need support and guidance. For a free and confidential consultation, call us at 1-877-316-2093.

Recoverable Damages in a Sexual Abuse Case

The psychological effects of child sexual abuse can be devastating to a child and the costs associated with health and psychological care over the span of a child’s life can be very costly. Although no amount of financial compensation can ever truly right this wrong, compensation can help victims and their families get counseling and support to help rebuild their lives. Large verdicts and settlements can also send an important message to individuals and organizations to be more careful with the lives of our children. Because sexual predators tend to abuse more than one victim, pursuing a civil lawsuit can help prevent the person who committed the harm from doing the same to another child.

In most cases, the abuser does not have sufficient resources to compensate his victim. But others associated with the abuser may bear some legal responsibility. For example, the abuser’s employer may bear legal responsibility if they knew or should have known about the abuse. There is a long history of abuse occurring in environments we send our kids to every day including: sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts; at day care; sexual abuse in sports leagues (little league, Pop Warner, park sports leagues, etc.); sexual abuse in residential care facilities or hospitals; sexual abuse in summer camps; sexual abuse in churches, parishes and other places of worship; and sexual abuse in foster care homes.

If the employer failed to properly screen an abuser or supervise the abuser, then they too may have legal culpability. California law also requires that certain people report suspected child abuse including school employees, social workers, clergy, employees of care facilities and medical professionals. If one of these people failed to report an incident they should have known about and the failure to report contributed to the abuse, then that person or the organization they work for may be legally culpable.

At The Law Offices of Scott Glovsky, we understand how difficult it can be for victims to come forward and pursue legal action against those who harmed them. Our attorneys are skilled and sensitive in handling these emotional issues. To learn more about how we can be of assistance to victims of child molestation and sexual abuse in Pasadena and Los Angeles, please contact Law Offices of Scott Glovsky today for a free and confidential consultation. We want to help, call us at 1-877-316-2093 or complete our online form.